"We deserve our club back. New Dorp deserves our club," said Jenny Casalino.
Casalino has been waiting almost four years for the New Dorp Friendship club to re-open on her block.
The senior center was shut down after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
"I had everything there," she said.
Since then, the 87-year-old has been coming to the Great Kills Friendship Club Instead.
But, she says it takes her more time and more money to get there.
"It's costing me 40 dollars a week to travel even with access-a-ride when I got it all free down the block," she added.
Casalino was among dozens of seniors who gathered at the New Dorp site around this time last year as elected officials announced the center would be rebuilt in the basement of this church on Cedar Grove Avenue. Staten Island’s Borough President says the property is City owned, and was bid to a private contractor. Construction was supposed to begin over the summer. But Oddo says he received a notice from parks that the contract has been canceled because of an issue with workers’ wages. He says the agency now has to find a new contractor and start the bidding process all over again.
"The reality is by the time this work is complete some of those seniors won't go back because they will no longer be with us. This has been a frustrating component of an utterly disheartening recovery process of Sandy," said Oddo.
Parks property surrounding the church has been completed restored since Sandy. The agency has put in a new playground, walking paths benches and even a fountain.
"With all the stuff going on, why not give us a break?," Casalino added.
Oddo says he’s confident a new contractor will be found and Casalino says she hopes it’s a speedy process. The parks department hasn't responded to our request for comment.